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Booklet - Sri Lanka
Report - Sri Lanka

Study Visit to Sri Lanka

Between 26 and 29 January, a study visit to Sri Lanka was carried out within the framework of the MICROIDEA Project. The purpose of the visit was to hold meetings with key national stakeholders active in the field of skills development for low- and medium-qualified individuals, with the ultimate objective of supporting skills certification through the ISO 17024 standard, which constitutes a core pillar of the MICROIDEA Project.

During the visit, meetings were held with:

  • ministries,
  • public and private organisations,
  • education and training centres,
  • representatives of employees and unemployed people,
  • migration and labour recruitment agencies.

 

The objective of these meetings was to present the MICROIDEA Project, its methodology, and the tools being developed, and to highlight the benefits that may result for the organisations involved through the adoption and implementation of the project’s approach.

A. Meeting with Trade Union FTZ & GSEU

The first meeting took place on Tuesday, 27 January, with the Trade Union FTZ & GSEU (Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union). Discussions were held with Mr Anton Marcus, Executive Committee Member and Co-Chair of the Industrial Sri Lanka Council. This trade union played a decisive role in organising the visit, as it maintains close cooperation with 3F (one of the largest labour unions in Denmark), which participates in the MICROIDEA Project as an Associated Partner. The union has approximately 20,000 members and is the largest in the country.

During the meeting, the institutional framework and historical evolution of labour migration in Sri Lanka were presented and discussed in depth.

 

Brief Overview of Labour Migration in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a population of approximately 21 million. The country gained independence in 1948, marking the beginning of its organised migration history. Since 2010, migration flows have been characterised by skills diversification, crisis-driven migration following 2022, and increasing risks of forced labour and protection gaps.

Labour migration constitutes a central pillar of:

  • the country’s economic stability,
  • foreign currency inflows,
  • and job creation.

 

It is estimated that 2–3 million Sri Lankan citizens live and work abroad as temporary or permanent migrants. In 2024, a record 312,000 workers departed for employment abroad (59% men and 41% women).

The main destination countries include:

  • Middle Eastern countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar),
  • and East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea.

Remittances from migrant workers reached approximately USD 8 billion in 2025, corresponding to 8–9% of national GDP. Labour migration contributes significantly to reducing domestic unemployment—particularly among young people and low- to medium-skilled workers—while also supporting household income, education, and health.

 

Challenges and Institutional Framework

Key challenges identified include:

  • protection of migrant workers,
  • abusive practices in recruitment procedures,
  • gender-related risks for women migrants,
  • skills loss and difficulties in reintegration after return.

Governance of labour migration in Sri Lanka is implemented through:

  • the Ministry of Labour,
  • the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
  • the Ministry of Foreign Employment (Migration),
  • and the Ministry of Tourism.

 

A central role is played by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which operates approximately 30 decentralised branches and training centres across the country, in cooperation with labour attachés at embassies and regional development officers.

 

Role of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment & Skills Recognition System

Beyond its decentralised district-level branches, SLBFE plays a central role in coordinating and supervising recruitment agencies active in overseas employment.

Sri Lanka has concluded bilateral labour cooperation agreements with key destination countries, particularly in the Middle East and East Asia. These agreements define in detail:

  • migration procedures,
  • requested occupational profiles,
  • required skills and qualifications of workers.

Host countries specify their labour needs and required skills. Within this framework, Sri Lankan authorities—primarily SLBFE—undertake the training and certification of interested workers, ensuring that they are adequately prepared prior to departure.

 

Skills Recognition System

At national level, Sri Lanka operates an organised skills recognition system through the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Framework, a standardised national certification system with levels from Level 1 to Level 7.

The NVQ framework:

  • recognises formal and, in some cases, non-formal skills,
  • serves as a key reference for skills required for overseas employment.

In parallel, the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process is applied, which:

  • assesses existing professional experience and informal skills,
  • enables experienced workers to obtain NVQ certification,
  • is particularly important for migrant workers without formal qualifications or official diplomas.

 

Pre-Departure Preparation & Alignment with Host Countries

As part of pre-departure preparation, prospective migrant workers participate in:

  • upgrading of professional skills by specialisation,
  • language training and cultural orientation,
  • training on occupational safety issues,
  • information sessions on labour rights and obligations.

Skills recognition is further aligned with bilateral labour agreements through:

  • partial recognition of NVQ and RPL certifications in selected host countries,
  • ongoing negotiations for Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs).

 

 

Labour Demand Sectors & Labour Market

Based on information collected during the meetings, labour demand from third countries differs as follows:

  • demand from China, India, and Arab countries is mainly concentrated in construction,
  • demand from Bangladesh is mainly concentrated in agriculture.

 

Overall unemployment in Sri Lanka is approximately 6%. However, among the 20–50 age group, unemployment rises to around 25%, with higher rates among women, highlighting significant social and labour challenges.

SLBFE supervises more than 1,000 employment and recruitment agencies, while approximately 1,500 training institutes operate nationwide, of which 750 are public, and 750 are private.

B. Visit to the Tertiary & Vocational Education Commission (TVEC)

A meeting was held with the Tertiary & Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), the national authority for Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Sri Lanka, operating under the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.

Discussions were held with Mr Manjula Vidanapathirana, Director of the Registration, Accreditation & Quality Management Systems Division. The meeting highlighted strong convergence with the objectives of the MICROIDEA Project. It is noted that only 5% of the population is illiterate, indicating a solid foundation for skills development.

 

Interest in Expanding Skills Development & Migration Pathways

TVEC expressed strong interest in further developing beneficiaries’ skills, not only within existing bilateral labour migration agreements, but also with the aim of expanding professional opportunities towards other countries, including Europe.

In this context, the MICROIDEA Project was presented in detail, with reference to:

  • project objectives,
  • methodology,
  • tools developed,
  • skills certification through ISO 17024, with emphasis on micro-credentials and occupation-specific professional skills.

This approach was assessed as particularly attractive, as it complements the existing NVQ/RPL system by offering enhanced international recognition.

 

Agreement on Pilot Cooperation

A pilot cooperation was agreed with the following key characteristics:

  • Selection of 25 beneficiaries in the tourism/food services sector, specifically waiter/service staff, seeking to upgrade qualifications for labour migration.
  • Selection of 2–3 trainers, who will:
    • be trained by the MICROIDEA consortium,
    • become familiar with the project’s tools, procedures, and methodology,
    • support the training of the selected beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries will be trained in parallel with participants in MICROIDEA project pilots in Spain, Greece, and Cyprus.

At the end of the pilot period (September–October), participants will be able to take part in the ISO 17024 certification process, aiming to obtain internationally recognised skills certification.

 

Next Steps & Expansion of Cooperation

A workshop to be held at the end of March was agreed, with participation from:

  • the MICROIDEA consortium,
  • representatives of TVEC.

The workshop will focus on detailed planning, coordination, and organisation of the pilot implementation and will form the basis for a first structured cooperation.

C. Meeting with ALFEA – Representatives of Private Recruitment Agencies

A meeting was held with ALFEA, which operates as a job agency and as a representative body of private labour migration agencies. The meeting included 6–7 Managing Directors of recruitment agencies, including Hairens Manpower LTD and NS Lanka Foreign Employment.

The labour migration process under existing bilateral agreements was presented in detail. In presenting the MICROIDEA Project—particularly skills certification through ISO 17024 and the link to micro-credentials—it was noted that, although certifications exist for certain occupations and countries, there is no horizontally recognised, internationally valid certification, especially for workers migrating to Europe.

This creates a gap in both employability and worker protection. Following the presentation of the agreement with TVEC, recruitment agencies expressed strong interest in participating in the pilot, proposing candidates and cooperating with public authorities, particularly for individuals preparing for imminent migration.

 

Conclusions & Framework Agreement

It was jointly agreed that the MICROIDEA Project—particularly its ISO 17024-based certification approach:

  • addresses existing certification gaps,
  • complements national NVQ and RPL systems,
  • provides an internationally recognisable certification tool for workers targeting labour markets beyond bilateral agreements.

 

This was considered highly relevant by recruitment agencies and in the context of labour mobility towards Europe.

D. Visit to the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM)

The next institution visited was the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM), which operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism. SLITHM is the country’s main national education and training organisation in the fields of tourism and hotel management, providing education at all levels and covering all occupations within the tourism sector.

During the visit, an extensive and highly productive meeting was held with the Director of the Schools, Ms W. Nirmalie B. Mendis, who presented in detail:

  • the overall activities and mandate of the institution,
  • the structure of its study programmes,
  • as well as the progression logic across the different levels of education.

 

Structure of Study Programmes

The educational design of SLITHM is based on successive training levels, combining theoretical education with mandatory practical training.

  1. Foundation Level (Craft / Foundation Courses)

The first level targets newcomers to the tourism and hospitality sector (beginners).

  • Duration: 3 months
  • Objective: Acquisition of basic knowledge and skills for entry-level employment
  • Fields of study:
    • Hotel Reception (Front Office)
    • Restaurant & Bar Service
    • Hotel Housekeeping
    • Professional Cookery
  • Minimum entry requirements: No prior experience or specialised education required

The programme is designed to fully prepare trainees for entry into the tourism labour market.

 

  1. Certification Level

The next level leads to a Diploma in Hotel and Catering Operations.

  • Duration: 5 months
  • Entry requirements:
    • completion of secondary education, or
    • successful completion of the Foundation/Craft Course
  • Fields of study:
    • Front Office
    • Food & Beverage Services
    • Hotel Housekeeping
    • Professional Cookery

 

  1. Intermediate Level
  • Duration: 6 months
  • Areas of specialisation:
    • Front Office Operations
    • Hotel Housekeeping
    • Food & Beverage Operations
    • Professional Cookery

 

This level aims to deepen skills and prepare learners for positions with increased responsibility.

 

  1. Advanced Level
  • Duration: 3 months
  • Leads to: Four-Year Diploma in Hotel & Catering Operations
  • Areas of specialisation:
    • Professional Cookery
    • Food & Beverage Operations
    • Accommodation Operations

 

  1. Higher Level (Postgraduate-type Programme)

 

SLITHM also offers an advanced level of studies, operating in a manner comparable to a postgraduate programme, addressed to professionals with substantial experience in the sector.

 

Observations Related to the MICROIDEA Project

During the meeting, it became clear that:

  • SLITHM operates a structured, multi-level education and training system,
  • places strong emphasis on practical training and employability,
  • and functions as a key supplier of human resources for both the domestic labour market and international workforce mobility.

 

Its educational model demonstrates strong potential for linkage with ISO 17024–type skills certification, particularly at the level of micro-credentials, making it highly relevant to the objectives of the MICROIDEA Project.

E. Visit to the Ministry of Labour

The final visit of the mission took place at the Ministry of Labour, where meetings were held with the Secretary General of the Ministry, Mr S.M. Piyatissa, as well as senior officials and advisors.

During the meeting, the MICROIDEA Project was presented in detail, with emphasis on its objectives, methodology, the tools developed, and the way in which the project contributes to the analysis, development, and certification of skills.

Role of the Ministry of Labour & Institutional Competences

It was made clear—also from the Ministry’s side—that the Ministry of Labour does not have direct competence in education and training policies, as these fall primarily under the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training.

However, the Ministry of Labour maintains:

  • Public Employment Services,
  • and employs career counsellors across various regions of Sri Lanka,

who are mainly involved in supporting the domestic workforce that remains and works within the country. As a result, the Ministry’s direct involvement in international labour mobility and skills certification remains limited.

Need for Skills Analysis & Use of Tools

Despite these institutional limitations, strong interest was expressed by the Ministry in:

  • analysing skills demanded by third countries,
  • comparing these requirements with the existing skills of the domestic workforce.

In this context, the role of the MICROIDEA IT tools was presented.

Specifically:

  • the job-postings analysis platform was demonstrated, which processes labour market data and extracts skills demanded by employers.

The platform is already operational with online data from Greece, Cyprus, and Spain, and is capable of providing a continuous overview of skills requirements in these labour markets.

The Ministry noted that, to date, similar data are mainly sourced through the International Labour Organization (ILO), with which it maintains a close and long-standing cooperation.

CV Analysis Tool & Skills Matching

In addition, the MICROIDEA CV analysis tool was presented, which:

  • aggregates CVs of beneficiaries, workers, and unemployed individuals,
  • extracts structured information from CVs,
  • converts experience and qualifications into structured skills,
  • and performs matching against skill requirements derived from job-postings analysis.

The tool is capable of:

  • proposing suitable professional pathways for beneficiaries,
  • documenting skill gaps,
  • supporting targeted training and upskilling interventions.

General Assessment

The meeting with the Ministry of Labour confirmed that, although the Ministry’s role is primarily advisory and supportive with regard to the domestic labour market, MICROIDEA tools can operate in a complementary manner by contributing to:

  • skills needs analysis,
  • employment policy design,
  • bridging information between the domestic workforce and international labour markets.

Sectoral field visits and socioeconomic context of Sri Lanka

Following the meetings with stakeholders in Sri Lanka, a two-day tour was conducted to visit several businesses and venues across the manufacturing, agroeconomy, tourism, societal, and craft sectors.

These areas were visited to gain familiarity with the local economy and labour market, to understand the working conditions and skills of the workforce, and to observe how Sri Lanka is expanding its economy through tourism, agriculture, and traditional crafts, while also appreciating the country’s rich civilizational and religious history and its influence on societal and economic development. Sri Lanka’s economy has been in a period of recovery and structural adjustment following the severe financial crisis of 2022–23, with overall GDP growth rebounding strongly in recent years and continuing into 2025, driven by industry, services, and agriculture.

Services, including tourism, contribute the largest share of economic activity and employment, while agriculture and industry remain key sources of livelihoods — with roughly one quarter of the workforce engaged in both farming and industrial activities, and nearly half in services. At the same time, tourism remains an important foreign-exchange earner and a focal point of economic strategy, with government targets to increase international arrivals and diversify tourism offerings, and international institutions supporting job creation and private sector growth to address projected labor-market challenges. Both traditional sectors like tea, rice and craft production and emerging segments such as sustainable tourism illustrate the country’s multifaceted economic base and its efforts to create resilient employment opportunities across regions and communities.

Strategic Impact and Final Assessment

The visit to Sri Lanka within the framework of the MICROIDEA Project highlighted a mature yet fragmented ecosystem of skills development, labour migration, and professional certification. Sri Lanka has strong institutions, national qualification frameworks, and extensive experience in managing international labour mobility; however, significant gaps remain in the international recognition of skills, particularly with regard to labour markets beyond existing bilateral agreements.

 

Key Conclusions

  1. High demand for internationally recognised certifications

Despite the existence of the NVQ Framework and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanisms, skills certification remains largely nationally oriented. For most destination countries—and especially for Europe—there is no single, recognisable certification tool accompanying migrant workers.

 

  1. Strong link between training and migration, but limited flexibility

The training system in Sri Lanka is closely aligned with the needs of countries with which bilateral agreements are in place. This significantly limits workers’ ability to access new labour markets, where required skills profiles differ.

 

  1. Limited capacity for skills analysis and comparison with international markets

Institutions rely primarily on external sources (e.g. the ILO) for skills data, without access to dynamic, real-time tools for analysing labour demand in European labour markets.

 

  1. Strong interest in pilot cooperation and innovative approaches

All relevant stakeholders—public authorities, education and training institutions, and recruitment agencies—expressed clear interest in pilot initiatives that bridge training, certification, and employability.

STRATEGIC VALUE OF THE MICROIDEA PROJECT

The MICROIDEA Project is strategically positioned as a bridge between:

  • national skills systems (NVQ, RPL),
  • international labour markets,
  • and globally recognised certification frameworks (ISO/IEC 17024).

 

Its approach offers:

  • International portability of skills, particularly through micro-credentials, enabling workers to access new labour markets beyond existing bilateral agreements.
  • Evidence-based analysis of skills gaps, through IT tools that process both job postings and beneficiaries’ CVs.
  • Enhanced employability and worker protection, as skills certification reduces precarity and abusive recruitment practices.
  • Complementarity with national institutions, without replacing them, while strengthening the international dimension of their role.

EXPECTED IMPACT

At strategic level, the pilot implementation of the MICROIDEA Project in Sri Lanka is expected to:

  • establish a good practice model for third countries with high levels of labour migration,
  • strengthen Europe–third country linkages in skills development and employment,
  • improve targeted training aligned with real labour market needs,
  • lay the foundations for future mutual recognition agreements for skills and qualifications.

 

The cooperation achieved with national authorities, education and training institutions, and recruitment agencies demonstrates that the MICROIDEA Project has the potential to evolve from a pilot initiative into a sustainable strategic policy intervention in the field of international labour mobility.

PROGRAM AGENDA “MICROIDEA PROJECT VISIT TO SRI LANKA” 26-30 January 2026

Day1 – Arrival at Colombo, 26 January 2026

 

Preparatory/ coordinating meeting with Union (FTZ&GSEU) representatives

 

Day 2 – Tuesday, 27 January 2026

 

09:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Meeting with the Trade Union (FTZ&GSEU)

 –          Adress – Cinnamon Grand, 77 Galle Rd, Colombo 3

–          Contact person – Ranjan Kurian

 

01:00 PM – 03:00 PM | Meeting with the Nipunatha Piyasa (Vocational Education Training center)

 –          Adress – 354/2, Elvitigala Mawatha, Colombo 05

–          Contact person – Nirosha Hapuarachchi

 

03:30 PM – 05:00 PM | Meeting with Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE)

 –          Adress – 234 Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla

–          Contact person –

 

Day 3 – Wednesday, 28 January 2026

 

09:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Meeting with Job Agency/ Labor Recruitment agency

 –          Adress – 234 Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla

 

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Meeting with the Ministry of Tourism tother with Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (SLITHM) – Maheeka

 –          Adress – SLITHM, No 78, Galle Road, Colombo 3

–          Contact person – Mr Dheera Hettiarachchi

–          Contact person – Sameera Kodithuwakku (Private Sec to the Minister

 

03:00 PM – 04:00 PM | Meeting with the Ministry of Labor, together with the representative of the education Ministry

–          Adress – 7th floor, Mehewara Piyesa, Narahenpita, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka.

–          Contact person – Mrs. Nisheadra Peiris, Additional Director Foreign Relations

 

Day 4 & 5  – Thursday-Friday,  29 & 30  January 2026

Sectoral Field Visits and Socioeconomic Context of Sri Lanka

Magda Peistikou

Magda Peistikou serves as the Head of Learning and Development at INSETE (the Institute of Education of the Greek Tourism Confederation). She holds an MSc in International Hospitality and Tourism Marketing Management, an MBA, and a PgCert. In the past year, she commenced her PhD studies in Event Management.

Since 2006, Magda has been active in the tourism, food, and events sectors, both as a lecturer and a practitioner. In 2009, she became the Editor-in-Chief of *Food Service* magazine and other business publications. Her work has been published in international journals and conference proceedings. In 2020, she began collaborating with the UNWTO as a training expert, participating in educational projects in Russia, Georgia, and Tanzania. In 2022, Magda expanded her career by becoming a mentor for food producers, some of whom have achieved international recognition.

Additionally, she holds the role of judge for both the Taste Olymp Awards and the Innovation in Politics Awards. In 2024, she joined the TEDxAthens teams as a media relations manager. She is also an experienced organizer of food events, overseeing everything from conceptual development to execution, with her work earning numerous accolades from professional associations and organizations.

Xavier Mudarra Pizarro

He holds a degree in Political Science and Administration with a specialization in International Relations, complemented by a Master’s in International Relations, Security, and Development, as well as a diploma in Teaching with a specialization in Special Education. In 2007, he began his career as a primary school teacher and worked for three years as a Special Education teacher. Since 2011, he has served as a teacher in various schools across Catalonia, excelling in the teaching of Business Administration and Management. Starting in 2017 at Institut Provençana, he took on leadership roles as Mobility Coordinator and Seminar Head. His experience also includes working as an educational technician at the General Directorate of Vocational Training and serving as an evaluator for Erasmus+ projects. Additionally, he has participated in European collaborative projects, such as eTwinning, and has employed diverse active methodologies, including project-based learning and simulation, the latter in which he has also been a trainer for business management simulation.

Mr. Yannis Tsichlis

With 34 years’ experience in hospitality, Yannis Tsichlis joined Grecotel S.A. in 1990 and held since then key managerial positions in Sales, Marketing, Communication and PR, contributing to the group’s evolution to the leading hotel chain of Greece. 
He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Athens and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) with specialization in Marketing from the University of Sheffield, UK. 

He has taken part in numerous international product and executive development training programs.

 In his current role as Corporate Affairs Director, he represents the group to governmental authorities and trade associations and he is responsible for business relations, strategic partnerships and the ESG policy of the group.


*According to market statistics, Grecotel and Affiliated N.Daskalantonakis group ranks No.1 with 33 De Luxe & A’ category hotels (source ICAP, Greek Hotel Study, Nov 2024).

The Grecotel Hotels & Resorts are located in Athens, Attica, Crete, Corfu, West Peloponnese, Rhodes, Mykonos, Kos, Kalamata, Larisa and Alexandroupolis.

Kari P. Hadjivassiliou

Principal Researcher and Consultant at the Tavistock Institute (UK and Germany)and Co-lead of its EU/international portfolio of work.

Kari has over 30 years’ experience in international comparative research and evaluation, including the fields of employment and labour markets, school-to-work transitions and career trajectories, and inclusion of young people across the EU; welfare policies; education and training systems, vocational education and training and apprenticeships; and human and social capital development, including adult up-skilling and lifelong learning. Her interest and expertise lie in EU-wide research and policy, programme and process evaluation with a strong formative and stakeholder perspective.

Dr.Lukasz Sienkiewicz

Associate Professor at the Faculty of Management and Economics at Gdansk University Technology. Coordinator of the Centre for Technological, Economic and Social Transformation (C-TEST) and one of the founders of the Institute for Labour Market Analyses. Graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics, where he also obtained his Ph.D. in the field of management science and habilitated doctorate in the field of social sciences. For over 20 years now he works as a research professional, leading and taking part in scientific, as well as business focused research. He specializes in the issues of human capital development and labour market intelligence, including digitization induced transformations and micro-credentials. Author and co-author of over 90 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 100 research and analytical reports for international organizations (European Commission, ETF, CEDEFOP, Eurofound, Inter-American Development Bank) and business practice.

Vicent D. Pastor Martorell

Technical Educational Advisor for the industrial fields in Vocational Education and Training of the General Directorate of Vocational Estudies of Generalitat de Catalunya.

Over 20 years of experience in education, project management, and organizational leadership. Specialization in curriculum design and development for vocational education programs in fields such as Mechanical Manufacturing, Installation and Maintenance, Energy and Woodworking. My expertise includes adapting educational frameworks, promoting active methodologies like project-based learning (PBL), and fostering international collaborations.

Throughout my career, I have successfully led projects in areas like teacher training, curriculum innovation, and strategic partnerships with public and private entities. Additionally, I have played a key role in coordinating foreign language programs and digital transformation initiatives, as well as organizing events such as vocational training fairs and competitions.

Dr Wojciech Stęchły

Dr Wojciech Stęchły is a qualifications system and microcredentials expert at the Educational Research Institute in Warsaw (IBE) and assistant professor at Warsaw School of Economics (SGH). He is currently involved in development of the Odznaka+ (a digital credentials application for micro-credentials and badges) as a chief expert for developing standards and quality assurance. Wojciech is involved in various activities related to development of skills ontologies and digital applications for counselling and exploration of qualifications, skills and occupations as well as in research on various issues such as VET and AE institutions and financing or transversal skills assessment.

Andreas Alexi

My name is Andreas Alexis and I have been a legal advisor for the last 14 years. My diverse work history exposed me to different areas of expertise and philosophy, with a focus in labor law, employment law, health and safety, and Anti-money Laundering.
In self-reflection, I am a determined, kind, and bold individual, who is very goal oriented. Once I identify and analyse a set goal, as part of my implementation stage, I apply detailed planning, study the relevant legislations and tools, and ensure that my deliverable is governed by a model that contains full development of suggestions while addressing any existing or possible problems, and that it includes suggestions and exposure to any potential risk.
I highly prioritize the Principle of Prevention which refers to obtaining timely insurance aims, legal opinions, or other effective recommendations.
Teamwork, gender equality in the workplace, stress management and the positive outcomes it brings, hard work done in a safe working environment, Lifelong Learning, caring and understanding in the workplace, flexible forms of employment, willingness to go the extra mile, and positive energy, are all part of my core belief system.
The above, is not just a personal description. I believe that it is a summary of what drives me to always strive for further development, to the mutual benefit of both my employer and myself.

Giorgos Giorgakis

Giorgos Giorgakis is the founder and Managing Director of Eurosuccess Consulting. He has graduated from the European University of Cyprus, with a Master Degree (MBA) in Business Administration in July 2008. He has developed, managed and implemented more than 90 EU and National projects (FP, LLP, JUSTICE, ERASMUS +, COSME, RIF etc.) Mr Giorgakis is also the Coordinator of the VET and training activities for Eurosuccess, which is accredited as VET Center by the Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus – the relevant public authority as regards to training and education. As regards to the participation of professional bodies and associations at EU level, Mr Giorgakis is the National Representative for Cyprus, at European Forum of Vocational Education and Training (EfVET). Under this capacity, Mr Giorgakis is actively participating into various working groups, trainings, events and conferences contributing in this way to the development of the EU strategies as well as supporting all relevant organizations, in Cyprus and abroad.

Iakovina Vardalachou

Iakovina (Vivi) Vardalachou (Mrs), is Physicist with MSc in Electronics and Director of Persons’ Certification Division in TÜV AUSTRIA HELLAS since September 2013. She has 36 years of professional experience in quality matters and International Standards’ requirements as well as 28 years in certification sector. She has deep knowledge of International Standards’ requirements such as: ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17021, ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17024 etc and since 1988, she deals exclusively with quality matters, Management Systems and International Standards, having been successively trained in all versions of the ISO 9001 standard, up to the current one, as well as in all accreditation standards ISO/IEC 17021, ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17024 etc.

She is also quite experienced in Quality Management Systems’ Audits and has been recognized as Lead Auditor since 1996. During the period 1988 – 2005 she worked at INTRACOM SA. successively holding the positions of Head of Quality Control Department, Assistant to Quality Assurance Director, Deputy Director of Quality Assurance Division and Quality Assurance Section Manager. At the same time, from 1996 to 2009, she collaborated with Hellenic Organization for Standardization (ELOT) and the Certification Division as freelancer and Lead Auditor for various Management Systems.

Since 2009 she is working in TÜV AUSTRIA HELLAS and, up to now, she has developed and implemented up to 60 different accredited certification schemes for persons, according to the International Standard ISO/IEC 17024 requirements.

Sandor Karacsony

Sandor Karacsony is a senior economist at the World Bank, with a track record in research, policy advisory and operational work in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Previously he worked with Open Society Foundations, with the World Bank Executive Board as an advisor, and held various government and private sector positions in Hungary. His area of expertise covers employment, jobs, social assistance, education and skills, as well as monitoring and evaluation. Sandor has a special interest in development policy applications of data science and behavioral economics.

Giannis Tzimas

Giannis Tzimas is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Peloponnese. He has published a significant number of research articles in international journals and conferences. His current research activity lies in the areas of Net-centric and Service-Oriented Information Systems, Web Engineering, Web Modeling, Web Data Engineering, Big Data, Data Science and Applications of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Digital Ecosystems/Digital Transformation for the Public Sector, and Bioinformatics.

From 2018 till now, he has been an external consultant for the World Bank in the field of information systems, IT solutions, and Digital Transformation for Social Protection, Labor/Jobs, and Education. He has worked on several projects in Europe and Central Asia (ECA), Africa, China, the Caribbean, and Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Was the technical coordinator and unit manager of the Internet Technologies and Multimedia Research Unit of the Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus”, and the head of the Networks Operation Center of the Technological Educational Institute of Messolonghi.

Athina Lazou

Special Advisor/EU Projects Expert at ACRONYM Ltd. Former Head of the Vocational Guidance and VET directorates of the Greek Public Employment Services (DYPA). She has a diverse experience as Director General and CEO with a number of Public Organizations that promote vocational training and reskilling / upskilling of unemployed and employees. She has collaborated with all Social Partners of the country. She has conducted (as project manager/leader) a series of innovative European projects and she was for six years the National Representative at the European Commission for ESCO as well as the OECD Mega Science Forum.